At the Library

Looking back and looking forward

Every year around this time I write and present the library?s annual report. The purpose of the report is to tell library trustees, elected officials and, most importantly, you, what we?ve been up to this last year. It?s mostly statistics, but as library trustee Rachel Nicola said when we presented the report to the Washington City Council, there is a lot of heart behind those numbers. Here are a few of those statistics and some stories to tell you exactly why they should matter to you ? our patron and our supporter.

The library came in under budget for expenses (by $20,812.55) and over budget for revenue (by $601.27) last year. Our revenues come from fines and fees, but they also come from cities that contract with us for service, such as the cities of Ainsworth and Brighton, as well as Washington County, and the State of Iowa. Our library is run by your tax dollars and we take the responsibility of being good stewards of your tax dollars very seriously. We are your library, so please come in and utilize our collection, services and programs! Tell us what you think and what you?d like to see us offer in the future!

The library employs 12 regular staff members, including six teen employees, and we receive help from dozens more volunteers. We try to get out into the community, because the library doesn?t stop at the library doors. If you?d like to volunteer at the library or if you have a volunteer opportunity that our staff can help with, please contact us.

Although book checkouts across the nation have slowed, our library has seen a dramatic increase in certain types of checkouts ? specifically e-book and e-audiobook checkouts. Our ?virtual? circulation has increased 60.29 percent this last year, and we?re seeing more and more people coming in hoping to learn how to borrow these materials. We are also now offering e-magazines for checkout, and those have no limit, so 20 people could have the newest edition of US Weekly checked out from our library at the same time!

Our meeting room use has also increased (by 27.61 percent). Any member of the public can reserve one of our many lovely meeting rooms ? we had over 700 uses last year! Next time you?re hoping to get together with a book group or parent group, or just need a neutral place to meet with someone, consider reserving a room at the library!

Finally, our library programs have gained momentum and increased in attendance every year for the last three years. We have programs for all ages including our Noontime Concert Series, Storytimes, Early Out Wednesdays, and Teen Advisory Board. If you have an idea for a program, let us know! One new program we?ll be adding is called ?Check out a librarian.? Jenisa will be available for ?checkout? once a week in October for half-hour technology sessions with individual patrons. Call the library to reserve a time and let us know what you?re hoping to get help with. Jenisa will be able to plan an individualized learning session to help you with your specific technology needs.

Help us make this year as great as last year, because we are YOUR library!

The following new materials are available.

Adult Fiction

Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes, A Brickmaker's Bride by Judith Miller, Rose Gold by Walter Mosley, A Matter of Heart by Tracie Peterson, Bones Never Lie by Kathy Reichs, Mortal Bonds by Michael Sears

Large Print Fiction

Windigo Island by William Kent Krueger, Festive in Death by J. D. Robb, Yarn Over Murder by Maggie Sefton

Adult Nonfiction

Lincoln's Men by Daniel Mark Epstein, Inside the Victorian Home by Judith Flanders, Have a New Kid by Friday by Kevin Leman, Parenting Your Powerful Child by Kevin Leman

Young Adult Nonfiction

Wolf Children : Ame and Yuki by Mamoru Hosoda

Juvenile Nonfiction

The Cloud Searchers by Kazu Kibuishi, Escape from Lucien by Kazu Kibuishi, The Last Council by Kazu Kibuishi, Prince of the Elves by Kazu Kibuishi, The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi, The Tooth Book by Edward Miller